‘It’s more than striptease’ – how a Liverpool burlesque company is creating a new type of show

The classic image of burlesque is all about the art of the tease, but one Liverpool company is creating performances that are far more than that.

Spare Rib celebrates its 10^th anniversary this year with a series of shows at the Everyman and workshops for professionals and anyone who fancies trying it for fun.

And co-founder Tilly Mint says, although the traditional moves are still there, modern burlesque features everything from comedy to politics.

“In some ways I think it’s more how it was originally, because a lot of our performances are very political, quite funny, and some are quite gory – that’s known as gorlesque,” she says.

“When burlesque first started in the early Victorian era it was very close to music hall so there were a lot of skits and parodies, and cross-dressing as they called it then. We’re going back to that with the modern burlesque and an anything goes attitude.

“Stripping is actually probably the least important aspect the shows. We do have it but there’s more of a story and a theme behind what we do and we want audiences to go away questioning things which is the whole point of theatre. 

“We do have some elegant and beautiful performers in the classic Dita Von Teese style, but we have some crazy performers too.

“We have drag queens and kings, we have one performer who combines hip-hop style with burlesque and another who combines it with ballet pointe work. 

“Spare Rib is female led, so it is for women to celebrate each other, but we also want to encourage diversity. We’re not keeping it to one body type, one skin colour, or one age group, and we don’t just have women performers.”

Tilly, who comes originally from Anfield, started Spare Rib with co-founder, Liverpool burlesque performer Minxie Coquette.

“I was moving up from London where I’d been doing burlesque and I went to see a one-off charity performance she produced. I’d never met her before, but I loved the show so afterwards I suggested we worked together.

“Liverpool has some amazing burlesque performers – we’re not known for being shy in this city – and we also have singers and hosts at the shows. Although burlesque is a very old style of theatre, in some ways neo burlesque is ahead of a lot of traditional theatre because we are so inclusive and representative.”

As a dance teacher as well as a performer for 20 years, Tilly Mint says the workshops are an opportunity for Spare Rib to create a burlesque community in Liverpool.

“Our workshops aren’t just about teaching people how to dance, they’re about the history of burlesque and creating a community where we can talk about costumes and ideas, what works and what doesn’t. It can be very lonely for performers putting acts together and it can be difficult to break into if you don’t know anybody. 

“We get a combination of people at our workshops – those who want to do it professionally and those who just want to try it, maybe for fitness or for fun. 

“I aim the sessions at individual skills, so it’s something that can be done as a one-off or you could love it and come back for more and end up being a part of the community.”

The first workshop of the year, on Sunday March 9 at the Arts Bar on Hope Street, is bumps, grinds and shimmies – the fundamental moves of classic burlesque – although Tilly stresses there’s no nudity involved, it’s more about movement and body confidence.

“Most people are nervous at first, but it’s normally the people who are most nervous at the beginning who are absolutely loving it by the end. It’s that sense of freedom and letting go to the music.

“There’s so much in the media now about how the female body should look, so it’s nice to see that there are a wide range of bodies and as we age it doesn’t mean we become less attractive. As much as we all may want to look toned, wobbly bits are fun!”

To book tickets for shows at the Everyman, or find out more about workshops, go to the Spare Rib website.

Discover more events across Liverpool City Region here.